Nato: Time of essence to raise defence spend

NATO is set to force the UK to boost defence spending up to 3.5% of GDP, despite Sir Keir Starmer's commitment to 2.5% this week.

- By Charlie Bradley

Defence sources believe that Sir Keir will sign an agreement targeting the figure by 2035 at the upcoming Nato summit.

On Monday, the UK Government unveiled its long-awaited strategic defence review — referred to by commentators as the SDR — vowing that Britain's armed forces are moving toward's "war-fighting readiness" amid the growing threat from Russian president Vladimir Putin and the Kremlin.

Sir Keir agreed to boost defence spending from the 2.33% of gross domestic product that is currently being spent, to 2.5% by 2027. The SDR also set the goal of 3% in the next parliament, but with no firm date.